Methods: PubMed and Cochrane database searches, last conducted in December 2014, yielded 541 unique citations. Panel members reviewed titles and abstracts and selected 86 for further review. The panel reviewed these articles and identified 32 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, for which the panel methodologist assigned a level of evidence based on standardized grading adopted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. One, 15, and 16 studies were rated as providing level I, II, and III evidence, respectively.

Conclusions: Phacoemulsification typically results in small, moderate, and marked reductions of IOP and medications for patients with POAG, PXG, and PACG, respectively, and using 1 to 2 medications before surgery. Trabeculectomy within 6 to 24 months after phacoemulsification is rare in such patients. However, reports on its effects in eyes with advanced disease or poor IOP control before surgery are few, particularly for POAG and PXG.

1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington2Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California3Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami; Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida4Glaucoma Center of San Francisco; Glaucoma Research and Education Group, San Francisco, California5Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California6Harvard Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Glaucoma Service, Boston, Massachusetts